A little known bit of history. The United States recruited a large number of Irish immigrants and sent them to fight in the Mexican War. Some of these men deserted and went over to the Mexican side.
Leaders: We need to fight this war!!! … but I don’t want to fight in it or let any of my family or friends fight in it … that’s dangerous, they might get killed!!! … let’s send someone else to fight it for us!!! … we need to defend our honour and our nation!!!
iirc, a lot of the Irish were veterans of the British military. The first thing they did after getting out of the British army was move to the US, and when they landed they found out that the US Army paid a bounty if you already had military experience.
St. Patrick’s Battalion
A little known bit of history. The United States recruited a large number of Irish immigrants and sent them to fight in the Mexican War. Some of these men deserted and went over to the Mexican side.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick's_Battalion
Classic war time mentality
Leaders: We need to fight this war!!! … but I don’t want to fight in it or let any of my family or friends fight in it … that’s dangerous, they might get killed!!! … let’s send someone else to fight it for us!!! … we need to defend our honour and our nation!!!
iirc, a lot of the Irish were veterans of the British military. The first thing they did after getting out of the British army was move to the US, and when they landed they found out that the US Army paid a bounty if you already had military experience.